The agreements, signed during the “Invest in Rwanda” session at the Africa CEO Forum, bring together manufacturing, energy, logistics, tourism, and institutional investment partnerships under a coordinated push to deepen Rwanda’s private-sector-led growth strategy.
Elsewedy Electric to anchor industrial and energy expansion
At the centre of the agreements is a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding with Elsewedy Electric, under which the Egyptian conglomerate will establish a manufacturing facility in Rwanda producing smart water and electricity meters, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and power transformers.
The partnership also includes the development of a technical university or college to strengthen skills in energy and industrial systems, as well as participation in the development and management of Phases I and II of the Kigali Special Economic Zone. A new logistics hub is also planned, positioning Rwanda as a regional industrial and trade gateway.
Sunrise Resorts deal targets high-end tourism growth
In the tourism sector, Rwanda signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sunrise Resorts & Cruises to develop a new luxury hospitality resort.
The agreement includes two Heads of Terms focused on sustainability infrastructure, including a solar photovoltaic power plant with battery storage and a dedicated water treatment facility to support the resort’s operations.
Though the total value of the projects has not yet been disclosed, they are expected to reinforce Rwanda’s positioning in high-value tourism and the MICE sector, which continues to anchor the country’s services-led growth strategy.
The event also saw a strategic shift for Amicable Guest Houses Ltd (AGL), a subsidiary of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). A Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) and Shareholders Agreement (SHA) were signed between RSSB and Cleo Capital Group Ltd, alongside a management agreement with The Lux Collective. This move is expected to bring world-class management standards to Rwanda’s hotel assets.
Expanding regional and advisory partnerships
Rwanda also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Benin’s investment promotion agency, APIEX Benin, to strengthen bilateral investment cooperation and trade facilitation.
In addition, a non-binding strategic collaboration framework was signed with Busara Advisors, led by Amb. Reuben E. Brigety II, to provide advisory support on investment promotion and strategic development initiatives.
Speaking at the same session, RDB Chief Executive Officer Jean-Guy Afrika said the agreements reflect Rwanda’s broader strategy of building a predictable and execution-focused investment environment.
“Governance is infrastructure. Predictability, speed, and trust in institutions determine whether projects move from intention to implementation,” he said.
Afrika noted that Rwanda’s development approach has been shaped by structural constraints that have been converted into strategic advantages.
“Because we are landlocked, we focused on connectivity, logistics, aviation and services where reliability and speed matter,” he said, adding that Rwanda is positioned as “a platform for regional growth, not only a domestic market.”
He stressed that Rwanda is prioritising partnerships that go beyond capital inflows. “We are not only looking for capital. We are looking for partners who bring technology, operating experience, market access and long-term commitment.”
Afrika also highlighted Rwanda’s recent investment performance, citing $1.1 billion in foreign private capital inflows in 2024, representing a 23.9 percent year-on-year increase.
For 2025, he said Rwanda recorded $2.62 billion in investment commitments across priority sectors, including real estate, manufacturing, agro-processing, mining, and other strategic areas aligned with national development priorities.
He framed these figures as evidence of sustained investor confidence in Rwanda’s reform agenda and institutional stability.
Afrika said Rwanda’s investment model is designed to reduce friction and accelerate implementation through coordinated institutions such as the One Stop Centre.
“Investors are looking for places where projects can move, institutions can coordinate, and capital can become productive growth,” he said.
The agreements are expected to advance Rwanda’s long-term development agenda under Vision 2050 and the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which prioritise industrialisation, export growth, skills development and private-sector-led expansion.
Leave a Reply